Escambia Man Sentenced To Life For 2020 Murder

March 8, 2023

An Escambia County man has been sentenced to life in prison for a 2020 murder.

Stefan Phillip Gislason, 31, was sentenced to life by Judge John Simon for the April 20, 2020, murder of 32-year old Dillon Shanks.

Shanks was shot at Gislason’s home on Durango Drive in Pensacola. The victim was discovered with a gunshot wound to the back of his neck and head laying on top of a pile of clothing he had been carrying. He was only a few feet from an exterior door.

The shooting happened as Gislason escorted Shanks out of his house at gunpoint during a drunken argument. Initially, Gislason told detectives that Shanks shot himself. When confronted with the location of the injury, he claimed self-defense.

Comments

2 Responses to “Escambia Man Sentenced To Life For 2020 Murder”

  1. Mike J. on March 8th, 2023 10:16 am

    Every murderer convicted by a fair jury with no evidence of corruption by prosecutors, police, or judges, should be sentenced to the death penalty. Florida law requires that 1st degree murder cases be reviewed by a grand jury. The grand jury decides if an indictment is sent to the state for prosecution. 2nd degree murder does not require a grand jury indictment and is handled by the state attorney’s office.

    In my opinion, there should be no difference between 1st degree or 2nd degree. It makes no difference if the murder was planned in advance or happened suddenly. A murder is still a murder and the result is somebody is dead. Their life is over and their families mourn the loss.

    Rest in Peace, Mr. Shanks.

  2. Bill T on March 8th, 2023 8:28 am

    Hmmm sounds like your done for now!!!!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News